Firearm ejector



Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. PO'MEROY, F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO SMITI-L AND WESSON, 'INQ, 0F SPBJINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FIREARM EJECTOR.

Application filed July 18, 1922. Serial No. 575,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. POMEROY, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Firearm Ejectors, of which the following is a specification.

In all firearms firing fixed ammunition the cartridge cases occasionally fall from the extractor before being ejected and in automatic and semi-automatic firearms this frequently results in jams. This is due principally to the fact that the ejector is customarily located at such distance from the mouth of the firing chamber that the cartridge cases do not strike the ejector until the case has been withdrawn a distance somewhat greater than the length of a loaded cartridge so that loaded cartridges may be ejected when desired. Consequently, in extracting and ejecting an empty case there is a considerable interim between the time when the case is completely withdrawn from the firing chamber and the time the case strikes the ejector; and it is during this interim that the empty cases sometimes fall into the bottom of the receiver.

The principal object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid difficulty, together with its attendant dangers, and to effect the ejection of both loaded cartridges and empty cases reliably and uniformly. A secondary object is to facilitate the assembly of the ejector with the other parts of a firearm and to confine the ejector wholly to the interior of the receiver.

The invention comprises a firearm having a firing chamber and a breech closure movable relative to each other to permit loading and unloading (the closure being movable relatively to the firing chamber in certain types of firearms while in other types the firing chamber is movable relatively to the closure), together with ejection means, either pivoted or reciprocatory, which is operative at different degrees of separation of the firing chamber and breech closure for ejecting cartridges of difierent lengths, for example loaded cartridges and empty cases. This may be accomplished with a single ejector by making the ejector movable between two operative positions, a forward position for ejecting short ammunition such as empty cases and a rearward'position for ejecting long ammunition such as loaded cartridges. Rather than move the ejector manually the movement is preferably automatic. This movement may be effected automatically in response to the extraction of loaded cartridges by movably mounting the ejector on its support (usually the receiver) and normally holding the ejector in its forward position relatively to the support by a spring or other yielding means having sufficient strength to counteract the impact of an empty case but suificiently yielding to permit the retraction of the ejector relatively to its support until the projectile of a loaded cartridge, clears the mouth of the firing chamber. In firearms of the type in which the firing chamber moves forwardly during extraction'the relative movement between theejector and its support consists in a forward movement of the support whereas in the more common type of firearm wherein the breech closure moves rearwardly from the firing chamber the relative movement between the ejector and its support consists in a rearward movement of the ejector.

The ejector is preferably mounted between the breech closure and the receiver, the breech closure being provided with a longitudinal recess if desired to receive the ejector, so that the ejector is wholly enclosed within the receiver. In this way the ejector may be loosely held in position by the breech closure and receiver without attaching it to the receiver, so that when the breech closure is removed the ejector may be lifted out. To prevent the ejector dropping out when the breech closure is removed a spring may be provided frictionally to hold it in position, this spring preferably serving also to urge the ejector into its forward position as aforesaid.

For the purpose of illustrating the application of the invention one concrete embodimentis shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a. top view of a firearm with a portion broken away to show an empty cartridge case being ejected;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ejection of a loaded cartridge:

Fig. 3 is a. top view of the firearm with the breech closure and reciprocating slide removed;

Fig. 4 is a left side view of the firearm, with a portion of the slide broken away to show the ejector;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

, Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the ejector;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the ejector; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the ejector.

In the drawings the invention is shown as applied to a gun of the type having a fixed barrel A, a reciprocating slide S which is urged'forwardly by a spring C fitting in a groove 9 on the upper side of the barrel, a breech closure B which is reciprocable with the slide S when the lock L is in the position shown in the drawings and which may be reciprocated independently of the slide when the lock is pressed tothe left (Fig. 5) until the upstanding lugs Z clear the recesses in the opposite sides of the slide S, a receiver R having an upstanding portion 7' at the rear and flat ledges r and r at the right and left sides respectively, an extractor X mounted on the breech closure B, and the ejector E.

The ejector E is in the form of an elongate bar generally rectangular in cross-section. The inner side of the ejector is cut away at the forward end to form a shoulder e which ejects the cartridges. The rear portion of the ejector is provided with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive a plunger P. The side of the plunger P is recessed to receive a pin Q, which serves to limit the movement of the plunger longitudinally of the ejector. A spring D is interposed between the forward end of the plunger P and the inner end of the bore of the ejector yieldingly to urge the plunger rearwardly.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive the ejector rests on the ledge r of the receiver R- within a longitudinal recess in the breech closure B so that it is held in position by 'the breech closure and receiver when the ders U and V is such that the plunger must be pressed into the ejector somewhat to insert the ejector and plunger between the twoshoulders; thus the ejector is frictionally held in position by the compression of resales spring D so that the ejector does not fall out when the breech closure is removed from the receiver.

The shoulder e on the ejector is so located longitudinally of the ejector that the base of the cartridge case strikes the shoulder immediately after the case clears the mouth of the firing chamber F; and the spring D is sufiiciently strong to hold the ejector substantially in its normal position when the cartridge case strikes the shoulder e in the extraction of an empty cartridge case as shown at N in Fig. 1. However, in the ejection of a loaded cartridge as shown at M in Fig. 2, the spring D is compressed until the projectile of the cartridge has cleared the mouth of the firing chamber, the ejector moving back into the position shown in Fig. 2. After the loaded cartridge has been ejected spring l) returns the ejector to the forward normal position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Thus the ejection of either an empty cartridge case or a loaded cartridge takes place immediately after the case or cartridge has cleared the mouth of the firing chamber and the danger of empty cartridge cases falling from the extractor before ejection is practically eliminated.

I claim:

1. A firearm comprising a firing chamber and a breech closure movable relative to each other to permit loading and extraction, and ejection means mounted at one side of the path of the breech closure and operative at different degrees of separation of the firing chamber and breech closure for ejecting ammunition of diiferent lengths.

2. A firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech closure movable to and from the firing chamber, an ejector mounted along the path of the breech closure in position to strike the base of an empty cartridge as soon as it is extracted by the breech closure, and a spring for holding the ejector in said position, said spring permitting the ejector to be retracted by a loaded cartridge to permit its extraction.

3. A firearm comprising a firing chamber and a breech closure movable relative to each other to permit loading and extraction, and an ejector mounted at one side of the path of the breech closure and movable between two operative positions in which empty shells and loaded cartridges are respectively ejected immediately after extraction.

4:. A firearm comprising a firing chamber and a breech closure movable relative to each other to permit loading and extraction, an ejector support and an ejector movable relatively to each other to eject at different degrees of separation of the firing chamber and breech closure, and means for yieldingly holding the ejector in position to eject empty cartridge cases immediately after extraction, relative movement of said support and ejector being effected by engagement of the cartridge case with the ejector to eject loaded cartridges.

5. A firearm comprising a firing chamber and a breech closure movable. relative to each other to permit loading and extraction, an ejector movable to different positions to eject at different degrees of separation of the firing chamber and breech closure, and a spring for holding the ejector in position to eject empty cartridge cases immediately after extraction, the ejector being movable against the action of said spring by engagement of the cartridge case with the ejector to eject loaded cartridges.

6. A firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech closure slidable toward and from the firinp chamber, and an ejector mounted at one side of thepath of the breech closure and slidable forwardly and rearwardly to eject cartridges of difierent' lengths immediately upon disengagement of the cartridges and chamber.

7. A firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech closure slidable toward and from the firing chamber, an ejector slidable forwardly and rearwardly, and a spring for holding the ejector in forward position to eject empty cases, the ejector being movable rearwardly against the action of the spring by engagement of the cartridge case to eject loaded cartridges.

8. A firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech closure slidable toward and from the firing chamber, an elongate ejector disposed longitudinally of the breech closure with a shoulder in the path of extracted cartridges, and a springfor yieldingly urging the ejector forwardly into the position to eject empty cases, the ejector being slidable longitudinally to the rear against the action of said spring to eject loaded cartridges.

9. A firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech closure slidable toward and from the firing chamber, an ejector slidable forwardly and rearwardly to eject cartridges of different lengths, and means to hold the ejector in forward position to eject empty cartridge cases. 7

10. A firearm comprising a firing chamber, a breech closure movable toward and from the firing chamber, an ejector slidable forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the firing chamber, and means to hold the ejector in forward position to eject empty cartridge cases, the ejector being slidable rearwardly to eject loaded cartridges.

11. A firearm comprising a receiver, a firing chamber, a breech closure movable toward and from the firing chamber, and means mounted on said receiver and positioned to engage the base of each extracted cartridge for ejecting cartridges of different lengths immediately after they clear the fir:

ing chamber.

12. A firearm comprising a receiver, a firing chamber, a breech closure movable toward and from the firing chamber, an ex tractor on said closure, and means on said receiver in the path of the base of an extracted cartridge for ejecting cartridges of different lengths immediately after they clear the firing chamber, the extractor being arranged to permit ejection as soon as the cartridge has cleared the firing chamber.

13. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech closure slidable in the frame, an elongate ejector loosely mounted longitudinally of the breech closure between the frame and breech closure with a shoulder in the path of extracted cartridges, and a spring for yieldingly urging the ejector forwardly into position to eject, empty cartridges, the ejector being slidable to the rear against the action of said spring to eject loaded cartridges.

14. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech closure slidable in the frame, an elongated ejector loosely mounted in a longitudinal recess in the breech closure between the frame and breech closure with a shoulder in the path of extracted cartridges, and a spring for yieldingly urging the ejector forwardly into position to eject empty cartridges, the ejector being slidable to the rear against the action of said spring to eject loaded cartridges.

15. A firearm comprising a frame having a chamber, a breech closure for the chamber slidable in the frame, an elongate ejector mounted longitudinally of the closure with its forward end extending adjacent the chamber, a guide telescoping with the other end of the ejector, an abutment on the frame engaging the guide, a spring interposed between the ejector and guide, and means for limiting the relative movement of the ejector and guide.

16. A firearm comprising a frame, a firing chamber, and a slidable breech block supported by the frame, the breech block having an extractor, and an ejector member mounted between spaced portions of the frame and breech block, said ejector having a portion projecting adjacent the firing chamber forming a guide for one side of a cartridge as it is withdrawn from the chamber by the extractor, and having a shoulder at the rear of the guide portion for terminal engagement with the cartridge to eject the cartridge as it is withdrawn by the extractor.

17. A firearm comprising a frame, a firing chamber, and a slidable breech block supported by the frame, the breech block having an extractor, an ejector member mounted .between spaced portions of the frame and breech block, said ejector having a portion projecting adjacent the firing chamber forming a guide for one side of a cartridge as it is withdrawn from the chamber by the extractor and having a shoulder at the rear of the guide portion for terminal engagement with the cartridge to eject the cartridge as it is withdrawn by the extractor, and means yieldingly supporting the ejecl'Ol' in operative position whereby the ejector may be shifted to permit withdrawal of ammunition of different lengths from the firing chamber.

18. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech closure slidable in the frame, an ejector cooperating with the frame and breech closure, said ejector being mounted for sliding movement, means yieldingly holding the ejector in position to eject empty cartridges, and means positively holding the ejector against movement in another position to eject longer ammunition.

19. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech closure slidable in the frame, an elongate ejector mounted longitudinally of the breech closure with one end normally engaging an abutment on the frame, a guide telescoping the other end of the ejector with its outer end engaging another abutment, and a spring interposed between the ejector and said guide.

20. A firearm comprising a frame, a breech closure slidable in the frame, an elongate ejector mounted longitudinally of the breech closure with its forward end normally engaging an abutment on the frame, a guide telescoping the rearward end of the ejector With its rearward end engaging another abutment, and a spring interposed between the ejector and said guide.

21. An ejector member for firearms comprising an elongate bar generally rectangular in cross section cut away at one side to provide a cartridge guide and an abutment ejecting shoulder at the terminus of the guide, said bar having a longitudinal bore, a guide plunger slidable in the bore and normally projecting therefrom, a spring in the bore intermediate the bar and plunger, and means securing the plunger Within the bore for limiting sliding movement.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, this 14th day of July, 1922.

EDWARD S. POMEROY. 

